Archive | To Table: Ono Eats

Lava Lava Beach Club’s pineapple fried rice with shrimp, soybeans, egg and a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Photo courtesy of Lava Lava Beach Club.

When Chef Kim Brun left Lava Lava Beach Club after helping the new restaurant open in 2015, something told her to keep her emblazoned Sous Chef coat. And it’s a good thing, as she sits in front of me over two years later wearing it while she waits for her new “Chef” coat to come in. She returned to the restaurant in April 2017 and was recently promoted to the head chef role, leading the kitchen in serving Hawaiian-themed fare to guests with their toes dipped in the sand. Continue Reading →

Christopher Kim, chef de cuisine at Kauai Grill. Daniel Lane photo

In July 2016, Christoper Kim began his post as chef de cuisine at the St. Regis Princeville’s Kauai Grill. Born in Garden Grove, CA and raised in Mission Viejo, CA, Kim fell in love with cooking as a child. Continue Reading →

Owners Erin Keller and Jose Cortez. Daniel Lane photo

Note: In 2017, our blog posts will be less frequent. We’ll continue to update the book and app, but I will be writing a cookbook! I submitted a book proposal to Andy Ross, an agent I met at the 2016 Kauai Writers Festival, and he is now representing me. I look forward to sharing my progress as I move through this exciting project. In the meantime, Dan and I wish you the very best of the holiday season and an exceptional 2017!

The Local Kauai Kitchen & Bar opened on Nov. 25. Located in the former Eastside Restaurant, the focus is simple food in a casual setting with a seasonal “small-plate” menu that showcases local ingredients. Continue Reading →

Guests play piano and even bring Champagne to celebrate special occasions. Daniel Lane photo

The Tea Room at The Gallery evokes a charming, easy going time when things moved a lot slower. Teas, written by hand with colored chalk, are listed on chalkboards that are hung with white ribbon. There’s botanical tea powder by Naikela, which is grown and blended on the North Shore. Traditional teas include fragrant Extra Bergamot Earl Grey, Da Zhang jasmine green, first flush darjeeling, rooibos, organic Pai Mu Tan and Yunnan White Needle white teas and double fermented pu-erh. Continue Reading →